Good Afternoon,

The Township of North Bergen (the “Township”) received your request dated 07/11/2025 under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”), N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.

Records requested:

“I am requesting the police CAD Report, Incident Report, and Body Worn Camera footage on or about July 4, 2025 for a neighbor dispute that happened at 1505 88th Street in North Bergen where a neighbor allegedly reported that Edward Somick (and guests) shouted profanities about Middle Eastern people.
Since I am told that no complaints were filed that would not be considered an "active investigation" and then it would certainly qualify as an open public record."

In response to your request, see attached records, redacted in accordance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 and -1.1:

Request 1: “I am requesting the police CAD Report, Incident Report, and Body Worn Camera footage on or about July 4, 2025 for a neighbor dispute that happened at 1505 88th Street in North Bergen…”

Response: Attached please find responsive CAD report 25-064311. Concerning your request for the “Incident Report,” the Township holds no record responsive. Regarding your request for “Body Worn Camera” (sic) footage, the body-worn camera footage of the responding officer was redacted in accordance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 and N.J.S.A. 47:1A -1.1 and has been provided to you via DVD recording as the file is too large to transmit via email. The DVD is available in the Township Clerk's Office between the hours of 9am-4pm or can be mailed to you once we receive payment of $1.28. Your remaining commentary that “Since I am told that no complaints were filed that would not be considered an "active investigation" and then it would certainly qualify as an open public record” does not contain any request, and therefore no response is required under OPRA.

As with any OPRA request, you have the right to challenge the decision by the Township in regard to your request. At your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the Superior Court of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government Records Council (“GRC”) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. You may contact the GRC by toll-free telephone at 866-850-0511, by mail at PO Box 819, Trenton, NJ 08625, by e-mail at [email address], or at their web site at www.state.nj.us/grc. The GRC can also answer other questions about the law. All questions regarding complaints filed in Superior Court should be directed to the Court Clerk in the County in which you reside.

Thank you.

Erin Barillas, RMC
Township Clerk
Township of North Bergen
4233 Kennedy Blvd
North Bergen, NJ 07047
e: [North Bergen Township request email]
o: 201-392-2024
f: 201-330-7694
www.northbergen.org

-----Original Message-----
From: NB Wants to Know <[OPRA #78413 email]>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2025 12:57 PM
To: Erin Barillas <[email address]>
Subject: OPRA request - CAD Report / Incident Report / BWC Footage - EDWARD SOMICK

Dear North Bergen Township,

Please accept this electronic request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form or use a particular software platform to submit my request per NJSA 47:1A-6(f), which states that an email from a requestor including all of the information required on the adopted form shall suffice in place of a completed form as a valid government record request.

I HAVE NOT been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of New Jersey, any other state, or the United States.

I WILL NOT use the requested government records for a commercial purpose.

I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.

Records requested:

I am requesting the police CAD Report, Incident Report, and Body Worn Camera footage on or about July 4, 2025 for a neighbor dispute that happened at 1505 88th Street in North Bergen where a neighbor allegedly reported that Edward Somick (and guests) shouted profanities about Middle Eastern people.

Since I am told that no complaints were filed that would not be considered an "active investigation" and then it would certainly qualify as an open public record.

My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by E-mail as attachments. Please confirm you have received this request. If you are not the custodian of records, please forward my request to that person and provide their email address to me for future reference.

Yours faithfully,

NB Wants to Know

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